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Meghan Markle's best feminist moments for International Women's Day

Meghan Markle was a feminist and advocate for women's rights long before she was a royal.

In her two years as the Duchess of Sussex, the 38-year-old has continued to champion women's causes and speak out against gender inequality and gender-based violence.

In honour of International Women's Day 2020, we're looking back at her best feminist moments, from recent royal efforts to her first feminist act at age 11.

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Meghan supports women's groups and causes on Africa tour, 2019

Meghan put the spotlight on women's causes and organisations during her and Prince Harry's tour of Africa in late September, 2019.

She met with women activists, local mothers living with HIV and African women entrepreneurs and leaders over the course of the 10-day tour.

"For all young women organisers, activists and campaigners today, you must keep at it and know that you are working for this generation and the next, and also continuing the legacy of the generations of great women before you," the duchess said at an event with South African activists.

"The leadership and the strength shown by these women is remarkable, and at a time when the issue of gender and gender-based violence is at the forefront of people's minds, I hope their voices will resonate and not only give comfort but also create change.

"This is not just a South African issue this is a global problem that can only find solution with the attention and work of everyone, regardless of gender, status, politics race or nationality."

Meghan guest edits British Vogue's September issue, 2019

The Magazine feature profile pieces and interviews with powerful and influential women from around the world, including everyone from Michelle Obama to Jacinda Ardern.

In a statement, Meghan said she wanted "to take the year's most read fashion issue and steer its focus to the values, causes and people making impact in the world today."

"Through this lens I hope you'll feel the strength of the collective in the diverse selection of women chosen for the cover as well as the team of support I called upon within the issue to help bring this to light," she elaborated.

"I hope readers feel as inspired as I do, by the 'Forces for Change' they'll find within these pages."

"If things are wrong and there is a lack of justice and an inequality, someone needs to say something—and why can't it be you?" she said.

"It's not just about girls going to school and becoming smart women, it's knowing that those smart girls become influential women and that ends up changing the world for the better."

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Meghan shares her hopes to raise feminist children, 2019

Meghan was heavily pregnant at last year's IWD event and told the crowd that she hoped her unborn child would grow up to be a feminist, like their parents.

"I'd seen this documentary on Netflix about feminism and one of the things they said during pregnancy was 'I feel the embryonic kicking of feminism'," she said at the time.

"I love that. So boy or girl or whatever it is, [Harry and I] hope that that's the case with our little bump."

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Meghan encourages boys to be 'part of the conversation', 2019

The Duchess welcomed baby boy Archie just two months after her IWD 2019 appearance, and her comments about teaching boys to respect and support women became all the more poignant after delivering a son.

"If you have boys as part of the conversation as well, you're moving the needle in a different way because they're not mimicking learned behaviour that could be incredibly sabotaging for young girls' potential," she had said at the IWD event.

Speaking in Wellington on the 125th anniversary of women achieving the right to vote in the country, she pointed out that New Zealand was one of the first nations in the world to give women the vote in 1893.

"The achievements of the women in New Zealand who campaigned for their right to vote, and were the first in the world to achieve it, are universally admired," she said.

"Women's suffrage is about feminism, but feminism is about fairness. Suffrage is not simply about the right to vote, but also about what that represents: the basic and fundamental human right of being able to participate in the choices for your future and that of your community."

Meghan's feminist touches on her wedding day, 2018

She chose to walk part way down the aisle alone, meeting father-in-law Prince Charles towards the end as he accompanied her the rest of the way to the altar.

Many saw this as a rejection of the traditional notion of a father or older man "giving away" the bride to her husband on her wedding day.

Meghan and Harry's vows also featured feminist changes, the couple dropping the "obedience" vow and being pronounced "husband and wife" rather than "man and wife".

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Meghan marks International Women's Day by encouraging young girls, 2018

Meghan, still only Harry's fiancée at the time, greeted excited children before attending an event to mark International Women's Day in Birmingham in 2018.

One of her earliest engagements as a soon-to-be royal, she spent time with young girls hoping to pursue careers in STEM fields.

Meghan also encouraged 10-year-old Sophia Richards (left), who told the duchess of her acting dreams.

"Meghan said that one day she will see me being an actress," the schoolgirl later revealed.

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Meghan sets the tone for her feminist work as a royal, 2018

Meghan wasn't even a royal yet when she attended a forum for The Royal Foundation in February, 2018, but she was already setting the tone for her feminist work as a member of the monarchy.

"I hear a lot of people speaking about girls' empowerment and women's empowerment. You will hear people saying they are helping women find their voices," Meghan said at the time.

"I fundamentally disagree with that because women don't need to find their voices. They need to be empowered to use [their voices] and people need to be urged to listen."

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Meghan pens a powerful essay about period shaming, 2017

To mark International Women's Day in 2017, Meghan penned an essay that explored the sad reality of period shaming and the impact it has on women around the world, drawing on the experiences of women she met in India while working with World Vision.

"Beyond India, in communities all over the globe, young girls' potential is being squandered because we are too shy to talk about the most natural thing in the world," she wrote in the powerful piece.

"We need to push the conversation, mobilise policy making surrounding menstrual health initiatives, support organisations who foster girls' education from the ground up, and within our own homes, we need to rise above our puritanical bashfulness when it comes to talking about menstruation."

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Meghan delivers 'proud feminist' speech at the UN, 2015

In 2015 Meghan took the stage at the annual UN Women's Conference on International Women's Day and delivered a moving speech about gender equality and feminism.

"I am proud to be a woman and a feminist," she told the crowd.

The then-actress went on to explain why gender equality is so important and how society needs to continue to push for greater female empowerment and recognition.

"Equality means that a wife is equal to her husband; a sister to her brother. Not better, not worse – they are equal," she said.

"Women need a seat at the table, they need an invitation to be seated there, and in some cases, where this is not available, well then, you know what, they need to create their own table.

"It is said that girls with dreams become women with vision. May we empower each other to carry out such vision – because it isn't enough to simply talk about equality. One must believe in it. And it isn't enough to simply believe in it. One must work at it. Let us work at it. Together. Starting now."

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Meghan works with World Vision and UN Women on women's causes

Before even joining the royal family, Meghan was a passionate advocate for women's causes around the world.

She served as a global ambassador for World Vision, as well as an advocate for UN Women, and worked with women and girls in nations like Rwanda and India.

These throwback photos were shared on the Sussex Royal Instagram last month, with the caption: "Over the years, The Duchess has worked in developing communities, such as in Rwanda and India, to find the hindrances to girls' ability to go to school and furthermore to stay in school."